The Science of Reading Meets the Montessori Method

How these two worlds connect and diverge—and what educators need to know to implement both with integrity and success.

In recent years, the “Science of Reading” (SoR) has surged into the spotlight—backed by decades of cognitive science and neuroscience research, this body of work outlines how the human brain learns to read. It’s a call for structured, explicit, and systematic literacy instruction grounded in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Montessori, on the other hand, has long offered a rich, sensorial, and developmentally informed approach to literacy. Rooted in observation, independence, and hands-on learning, Montessori’s language work is beloved for its beauty, logic, and respect for the child’s natural drive to communicate.

So what happens when these two frameworks—one born from the lab, the other from the child—meet?

The short answer: Magic is possible. But only if we’re willing to do the work of integration with both discernment and integrity.

What the Science of Reading Says

The Science of Reading is not a curriculum—it’s a collection of findings from research in fields like neuroscience, linguistics, and psychology. It highlights that:

• Reading is not natural; it must be taught.

• Children need explicit instruction in how letters represent sounds (phonics).

• Phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words—is foundational.

• The brain wires itself to read by connecting the speech centers with visual processing through structured, systematic teaching.

For educators, this means ensuring that no steps in the journey to literacy are left up to chance. Decoding and word recognition skills must be directly taught—especially for children who may not pick them up incidentally.

What Montessori Brings to the Table

Montessori’s language curriculum is grounded in the idea that writing comes before reading, and that children thrive when they are allowed to explore language through movement, sound, and hands-on materials.

Here’s what Montessori does especially well:

• Builds phonological awareness from toddlerhood onward through songs, rhymes, and the sound games.

• Introduces letter-sound relationships concretely and early using the sandpaper letters and moveable alphabet.

• Focuses on writing first, giving children a reason to encode their thoughts before they are expected to decode others’ words.

• Centers meaning-making through storytelling, rich vocabulary, and a respect for the child’s interest in language.

Montessori classrooms do a beautiful job of cultivating a language-rich environment and an intrinsic love of communication. But, when it comes to decoding instruction—especially for children who don’t intuit the code—there can be gaps.

Where They Align—and Where They Don’t

Area	Montessori Strength	SoR Insight	Integration Tip
Phonemic Awareness	Strong foundation via sound games	Needs to be explicit and daily	Add structured routines & frequent practice
Phonics	Phonograms & sandpaper letters	Requires systematic scope & sequence	Map Montessori materials onto a research-based progression
Decodable Texts	Often lacking in scope/alignment	Essential for orthographic mapping	Use decodable books that reflect Montessori values
Vocabulary & Comprehension	Rich oral language & content	Needs to be paired with decoding	Continue deep content while boosting decoding fluency

The truth is: Montessori has always taught reading as a process connected to the whole child. But today’s research demands that we ensure that process is also explicit, systematic, and complete.

What Educators Need to Do Now

Bridging the Science of Reading with the Montessori Method doesn’t mean abandoning what works. It means filling in the gaps.

Here’s how you can do that with integrity:

1. Know Your Scope and Sequence Use a clear, structured phonics scope that builds from simple to complex. Align Montessori materials with this sequence—and don’t skip steps.

2. Use Decodables—That Make Sense in Montessori Avoid decodable books that feel dry, artificial, or disconnected from your environment. Look for books that are both phonetically controlled and reflect Montessori life, culture, and curiosity.

3. Protect the JoyThe Science of Reading tells us how children learn to read. Montessori reminds us why they want to. Hold onto both.

4. Use Data Thoughtfully Track children’s progress not to pressure, but to understand. Are they developing phonemic awareness? Can they decode words with taught phonics patterns? Use assessment to inform—not dominate—your practice.

5. Trust the Child—But Don’t Leave It to Chance Montessori emphasizes following the child. The Science of Reading reminds us that some children will need more help. Be ready to give it—early, directly, and joyfully.

How Montessori Makers Learning Supports You

At Montessori Makers Learning, we offer 96 beautiful, decodable books aligned with both Montessori principles and Science of Reading research. They:

• Follow a clear phonics progression—more robust than most Orton-Gillingham aligned programs.

• Reflect only realistic Montessori spaces and scenarios—from Practical Life to Peace Table moments.

• Support children’s identity, independence, and belonging while building decoding skills.

Because literacy is liberation—and all children deserve to read well and to see themselves reflected in the stories they read.

The choice between Montessori and the Science of Reading is a false one. We don’t have to choose—we have to merge.

Educators can honor Montessori’s deep wisdom about children and the insights of neuroscience about how reading develops. When we do, we offer children the best of both worlds: the structure they need, and the spirit they deserve.